Calibrachoa plant named &#39;KLECA09207&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘KLECA09207’ particularly distinguished by double flowers with more than five petals, a very early flowering period, very small flower size, and very good heat and rain tolerance, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Calibrachoa hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLECA09207’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLECA09207’. The new variety was discovered as a seedling resulting from a cross conducted in June 2006 in Stuttgart, Germany. The female parent was the proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘KLECA08182’ (pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/383,542), while the male parent was the proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘CA060137’ (unpatented).

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in May 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings and in-vitro propagation in Stuttgart, Germany for more than 45 generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Canada on Mar. 25, 2009. ‘KLECA09207’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Double flowers with more than five petals;

2. A very early flowering period;

3. Very small flower size; and

4. Very good heat and rain tolerance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows flowers and foliage of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in May 2009 of a 5-month-old Calibrachoa plant, grown in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLECA09207’. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in May 2009 on 5-month-old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in an 11 centimeter pot and then grown in a glass greenhouse. The plants had one terminal pinch one week after potting. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Calibrachoa sp.         -   Denomination.—‘KLECA09207’.         -   Common.—Calibrachoa Hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—The proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘KLECA08182’             (pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/383,542).         -   Male.—The proprietary Calibrachoa plant ‘CA060137’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Uniformly mounded.         -   Habit.—Upright to cascading.         -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—8.0 cm to 10.0             cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—17.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—8 weeks.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Continuously flowering, healthy,             good rain tolerance.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—18 days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, freely branching, moderate             density, white roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Length of basal branches.—9.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.5 cm to 1.3 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—6.0 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 176B Lower surface: RHS 144A.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Anthocyanin.—Yes Upper surface: RHS 176B Lower surface: RHS             144A.         -   Pedicel.—Color: Upper end: RHS 138A and RHS 176B Lower end:             RHS 138A Length: 0.6 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Texture: Smooth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple, sessile.         -   Size.—Length: 1.8 cm to 2.8 cm Width: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse to slightly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color (immature and mature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS 146A             Lower surface: RHS 146B.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—RHS 146D.         -   Petioles.—Absent, none, sessile. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Irregular to oblong.         -   Size.—Length: 1.5 cm Diameter: 0.6 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 71A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Flowers face upright, double flowering,             axillary.         -   Inflorescence type.—Determinate inflorescence.         -   Floret type.—Double flower.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—6 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Immature flower.—Diameter: Horizontal: 1.4 cm Vertical: 1.7             cm Color: Upper surface: RHS 70A Lower surface: RHS 70B.         -   Mature flower.—Diameter: Horizontal: 1.9 cm Vertical: 1.9 cm             Color: Upper surface: RHS 64B Lower surface: RHS 70B.         -   Corolla tube.—Color inside: RHS 12A Color outside: RHS 12C             Tube length: 1.0 cm Texture (both inside and outside):             Smooth.         -   Petals.—Apex: Obverse Base: Open, fused into the tube             Margin: Entire Waviness of petals: Very weak Location: Weak             Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth.         -   Sepals.—Calyx (composition): Actinomorphic Shape: Lanceolate             to elliptic Apex: Acute Base: Open, tube fused into the base             Margin: Entire Length: 0.7 cm Width: 0.2 cm Color: Upper             surface: RHS 144A Lower surface: RHS 144B Texture (both             upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Absent.         -   Pollen quantity.—None.         -   Pistils.—Number: 1 Length: 1.1 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Stigma             color: RHS 145A.         -   Style color.—RHS 145A. -   Fruit and seed set: No fruit or seed set observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLECA09207’ differs from the female parent Calibrachoa plant ‘KLECA08182’ (pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/383,542) in that ‘KLECA09207’ has purple-red flowers, while ‘KLECA08182’ has yellow flowers.

‘KLECA09207’ differs from the male parent Calibrachoa plant ‘CA060137’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLECA09207’ has double, purple-red flowers, while ‘CA060137’ has single, pale red flowers.

‘KLECA09207’ differs from the commercial variety ‘KLECA05101’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,610) in that ‘KLECA09207’ has a very early flowering period and very small, double flowers, while ‘KLECA05101’ has an average flowering period and medium, single flowers. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA09207’ as shown and described herein. 